Description
We have combined powerful anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving herbs in our Joint Formula, designed to support & protect the health of your joints.*
What Does Our Joint Formula Contain?
Our Joint Formula consists of:
- D-Glucosamine Sulfate– 413.5 mg
- Chondroitin Sulfate Sodium – 250 mg
- Indian Frankincense (Boswellia serrata, 60% extract) – 250 mg
- Turmeric root (Curcuma longa, 95% extract) – 50 mg
- White Willow Bark (15% extract) – 100 mg
- Devil’s Claw Root (extract) – 30 mg
Like all our nutraceuticals, our Joint Formula is free from allergens such as gluten and soy.
What Is the Recommended Daily Dosage?
We recommend 1-2 capsules per day or as advised by your healthcare professional. It can be consumed with meals.
What Does the Science Say?
Boswellia serrata
Also known as Indian Frankincense, Boswellia serratais an herb with traditional use in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, in particular arthritis [1].
It has been shown to hinder the breakdown of joint cartilage (by metalloproteinase-3 and blocking Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1, thus hindering inflammatory reactions) [2].
Human clinical studies have observed “trends of benefits” when used for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), coupled with a low burden of side effects and superiority compared to placebo in reducing pain and increasing functionality [3]. These results are corroborated by Sengupta et. al (2010) and Cameron & Chrubasik (2014), who demonstrated in a study on patients with knee OA that phytopreparations from Boswellia serrata’sgum resin were able to reduce pain and increase functionality already after a week without serious adverse effects [4,5] Patients also responded better to standard knee OA treatments when these were enhanced with Boswellia.
The herb’s support for joint health was also demonstrated by Belcaro et al. (2015), showing a faster functional recovery, diminished pain and objective physical and humoral signs of inflammations in patients with hand OA induced by work-related overstraining [6].
Crucially, a combination of Boswellia serrata and Curcuma longa was proven safe and efficient in OA patients, alleviating symptoms and objective signs more effectively than Celecoxib (a selective COX-2 inhibitor) while being practically devoid of side effects [7].
Curcumin
Curcumin is a phenolic phytochemical and the active compound of turmeric (Curcuma longa), extracted from its root. Turmeric is an herb which has been prominently used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to remedy a wide array of different ailments.
Curcumin’s positive properties have been confirmed by a growing body of modern-day research, suggesting it can potently support anti-oxidative processes & assist the body’s anti-inflammatory and detoxifying responses [8]. It may, among many things, be beneficial for:
- Protecting the health of joints [8,10]
- Supporting the immune system [8,9]
- Assist in scavenging free radicals [8]
- Promoting gastrointestinal health [8,11,12,13]
- Supporting the cardiovascular system [14], and
- Supporting the brain & nervous system [15,16,17]
A study by Haroyan et. al (2018) on OA patients showed that Curcumin worked synergistically with boswellic acid extract from Boswellia serrata, which as mentioned above is also an integral part of our Joint Formula [18].
In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, numerous studies have also shown Curcumin to have anti-carcinogenic effects [19,20,21]. An observational study by Hutchins-Wolfbrandt & Mistry (2010) found that populations consuming large amounts of curry (turmeric) have been observed to have a lower incidence of cancer [22].
Curcumin has, on a cellular level, been observed as immune cell modulatory, having inhibitory effects on COX-2 and iNOS enzymes as well as TNF-alpha, IL and NF-kB signaling pathways [8,9].
Our Joint Formula uses a best-in-class turmeric extract which is standardized to contain 95% curcuminoid to support its anti-inflammatory properties. It is intended to work synergistically with Boswellia serrata.
Devil’s Claw Root
Known in Latin as Harpagophytum procumbens, it has featured in traditional African herbal medicine as a remedy against stomach ailments. It’s active substance is the phytochemical harpagoside.
Modern-day clinical studies have shown it may assist in the relief of joint pain & support joint health [23,24]
In particular, studies involving human subjects showed that various parts of Devil’s Claw Root’s tuber extract, in the form of 50-60 mg harpagoside administered for 8-16 week significantly improved the clinical picture of subjects with knee and hip osteoarthritis in terms of pain, movement limitation and joint crepitus [23,24].
Studies also suggest that harpagoside exerts a significant anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the inflammatory stimuli mediated by suppressing c-FOS/AP-1 activity in OA chondrocytes under pathological conditions [25]. Animal studies simulating induced bone loss showed that oral administration of harpagoside significantly improved the recovery of bone mineral density and the overall architecture of the bone (achieved by harpagoside inhibiting the serum levels of biochemical markers of bone loss) [26]. It could thus have potential for mitigating age-dependent bone destruction disease.
The Devil’s Claw Root extract in our Joint Formula is intended to act in synergy with Indian Frankincense and Curcumin thanks to its beneficial effects for joint health.
White Willow Bark
Also known as Salix alba, White Willow Bark has been used for centuries as a traditional remedy against minor aches & pain.
Clinical studies have noted that the active ingredient of Willow bark – salicin– effects the cytokine balance and can help to relieve joint discomfort [27]. An observational study on 436 patients with osteoarthritis and back pain showed a 33-44% reduction in pain over a 24 week period [28].
White Willow Bark enhances our Joint Formula with it’s joint health supportive properties.
Scientific References & Relevant Research
[1] Ammon HP. [Boswellic acids (components of frankincense) as the active principle in treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases]. Wien Med Wochenschr. 2002;152(15-16):373-8
[2]Blain EJ, Ali AY, Duance VC. Boswellia frereana (frankincense) suppresses cytokine-induced matrix metalloproteinase expression and production of pro-inflammatory molecules in articular cartilage. Phytother Res. 2010;24(6):905-12.
[3] Dragos D, Gilca M, Gaman L, et al. Phytomedicine in Joint Disorders. Nutrients. 2017;9(1)
[4] Sengupta K, Krishnaraju AV, Vishal AA, et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of 5-Loxin and AflapinAgainst osteoarthritis of the knee: a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical study. Int J Med Sci. 2010;7(6):366-77.
[5] Cameron M, Chrubasik S. Oral herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(5):CD002947.
[6] Belcaro G, Feragalli B, Cornelli U, Dugall M. Hand ‘stress’ arthritis in young subjects: effects of Flexiqule (pharma-standard Boswellia extract). A preliminary case report. Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol. 2015;
[7] Kizhakkedath R. Clinical evaluation of a formulation containing Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata extracts in the management of knee osteoarthritis. Mol Med Rep. 2013;8(5):1542-8.
[8] Jurenka JS. Anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, a major constituent of Curcuma longa: a review of preclinical and clinical research. Altern Med Rev. 2009;14(2):141-53.
[9] Jagetia GC, Aggarwal BB. “Spicing up” of the immune system by curcumin. J Clin Immunol. 2007;27(1):19-35.
[10] Funk JL, Oyarzo JN, Frye JB, et al. Turmeric extracts containing curcuminoids prevent experimental rheumatoid arthritis. J Nat Prod. 2006;69(3):351-5.
[11] Holt PR, Katz S, Kirshoff R. Curcumin therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: a pilot study. Dig Dis Sci. 2005;50(11):2191-3.
[12] Epstein J, Docena G, Macdonald TT, Sanderson IR. Curcumin suppresses p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, reduces IL-1beta and matrix metalloproteinase-3 and enhances IL-10 in the mucosa of children and adults with inflammatory bowel disease. Br J Nutr. 2010;103(6):824-32.
[13] Ukil A, Maity S, Karmakar S, Datta N, Vedasiromoni JR, Das PK. Curcumin, the major component of food flavour turmeric, reduces mucosal injury in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced colitis. Br J Pharmacol. 2003;139(2):209-18.
[14] Wongcharoen W, Phrommintikul A. The protective role of curcumin in cardiovascular diseases. Int J Cardiol. 2009;133(2):145-51.
[15] Sun AY, Wang Q, Simonyi A, Sun GY. Botanical phenolics and brain health. Neuromolecular Med. 2008;10(4):259-74.
[16] Xie L, Li XK, Takahara S. Curcumin has bright prospects for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Int Immunopharmacol. 2011;11(3):323-30.
[17] Mythri RB, Harish G, Dubey SK, Misra K, Bharath MM. Glutamoyl diester of the dietary polyphenol curcumin offers improved protection against peroxynitrite-mediated nitrosative stress and damage of brain mitochondria in vitro: implications for Parkinson’s disease. Mol Cell Biochem. 2011;347(1-2):135-43.
[18] Haroyan A, Mukuchyan V, Mkrtchyan N, et al. Efficacy and safety of curcumin and its combination with boswellic acid in osteoarthritis: a comparative, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):7.
[19] Dhillon N, Aggarwal BB, Newman RA, et al. Phase II trial of curcumin in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2008;14(14):4491-9.
[20] Ravindran J, Prasad S, Aggarwal BB. Curcumin and cancer cells: how many ways can curry kill tumor cells selectively?. AAPS J. 2009;11(3):495-510.
[21] Goel A, Aggarwal BB. Curcumin, the golden spice from Indian saffron, is a chemosensitizer and radiosensitizer for tumors and chemoprotector and radioprotector for normal organs. Nutr Cancer. 2010;62(7):919-30.
[22] Hutchins-Wolfbrandt A, Mistry AM. Dietary turmeric potentially reduces the risk of cancer. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2011;12(12):3169-73.
[23] Chrubasik S, Thanner J, Künzel O, Conradt C, Black A, Pollak S. Comparison of outcome measures during treatment with the proprietary Harpagophytum extract doloteffin in patients with pain in the lower back, knee or hip. Phytomedicine. 2002;9(3):181-94.
[24] Wegener T, Lüpke NP. Treatment of patients with arthrosis of hip or knee with an aqueous extract of devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens DC.). Phytother Res. 2003;17(10):1165-72.
[25] Haseeb A, Ansari MY, Haqqi TM. Harpagoside suppresses IL-6 expression in primary human osteoarthritis chondrocytes. J Orthop Res. 2017;35(2):311-320.
[26] Chung HJ, Kyung kim W, Joo park H, et al. Anti-osteoporotic activity of harpagide by regulation of bone formation in osteoblast cell culture and ovariectomy-induced bone loss mouse models. J Ethnopharmacol. 2016;179:66-75.
[27] Singh AP. Salicin – A natural analgesic. Ethnobotanical Leaflets. 2003
[28] Uehleke B, Müller J, Stange R, Kelber O, Melzer J. Willow bark extract STW 33-I in the long-term treatment of outpatients with rheumatic pain mainly osteoarthritis or back pain. Phytomedicine. 2013;20(11):980-4.
